Have you ever wondered what goes through a zombie’s brain as they lifelessly shuffle around? Well, the opening monologue from Warm Bodies thinks it is something like this.”What am I doing with my life? I’m so pale. I should get out more. I should eat better. My posture is terrible. I should stand up straighter. People would respect me more if I stood up straighter. What’s wrong with me? I just want to connect. Why can’t I connect with people? I’m lost.”
Warm Bodies is a zombie love story.
That’s right, there is now a chick-flick for all those infected with the zombie-hysteria that is sweeping the nation. However, the film is not merely a cash-in on the current trend of zombie-loving TV viewers, or Twilight fanatics. It is a surprisingly entertaining film that pokes fun at other zombie flicks, as well as classic romances.
The story is told from the perspective of a zombie named R, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult. He doesn’t remember his real name, just that it starts with the letter “R”. He is a undead, however, is still able to think and function inside of his head at a human level. He lives in an abandoned airport with hundreds of other zombies, including his best friend M, (And by best friend I mean they occasionally grunt or mutter a word while awkwardly staring at each other).
R and the other zombies need to eat human flesh to survive, but as R’s thoughts reveal, “I’m quite ashamed that I eat people, in fact, if you(The viewer) could just look away during this part, that’d be great”. But R’s life takes a dramatic turn when his pack of zombies stumble upon a small group of survivors on a supply run. Its then where he meets Julie, portrayed by Teresa Palmer, in an over-dramatic slow motion scene that shows Julie shooting her shotgun set to John Waite’s classic 80‘s love-ballad, “Missing You”.
R quickly becomes enamored by Julie as he ate her boyfriend’s brain which gave him his emotions and memories. Before the other zombies can take a bite out of her he smears blood on her, masking her “human” scent. After escaping to R’s hideaway the two begin to bond, and the love that R feels slowly begins to make his heart beat once more.
The ending, as well as a lot of the events that take place in the film are predicable, however the clever writing will make you laugh regularly. Such as when Julie asks R why he listens to vinyl records, he responds, “Sounds better… more alive”.
The story also parallels Romeo and Juliet, as both R and Julie(A play on words to Romeo and Juliet’s names) come from “disapproving families” or in this case, humans and zombies. There is even a balcony scene which R calls out to Julie at her house inside the human camp.
Overall, Warm Bodies is a fun film that any romance, or zombie fan should enjoy.
Steffan says
I enjoyed the themes explored in this movie. The main one being connection. As I walked out, I thought to myself, “This is a very Christian movie.” That is, we’re all “living dead” without Christ and are thus estranged from that vague otherworldly connection and significance we desire at our core. Romantic love, being another theme, is a biblical symbol which ultimately alludes to our longing for God and the connection He enjoys within the trinity. And as we learn to love God and each other perhaps we can be sanctified and redeemed much in the way R was through his relationship with Julie.
Steffan says
Oh, also I would add that R’s return to humanity, from Christian viewpoint, could be viewed as paralleling the restoration of the imago dei within us. And it should also be noted that not only did R’s return to life have personal significance (being able to talk and communicate, having a warmer body, feeling pain, bleeding), but it also ultimately brought him back into the community of true humans. This could open up an discussion on how the “city” with its concrete walls is like the church (if you don’t think the parallels I’m drawing between this movie and Christianity are dumb at this point). Like Julie’s father (representing perhaps a pastor – or the leader of the humans at least) was suspicious of R and all undead, not believing they could be brought back to life, so often is the church xenophobic in a similar rite. Dang, I should write my own review of this movie.
rvs says
I enjoyed the scene where R sat on a sofa and read Us magazine. That was a nice touch.